Meet the Beatles

If you’re thinking you’re already familiar with the Beatles’ near-canonized Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, think again. No matter how many times you’ve listened to “A Day in the Life,” Scott Freiman wants to play it for you again — in a way you’ve never heard before.

Freiman is the founder and face of Beatles Lectures, a family-friendly multimedia presentation of various Beatles records. A composer, arranger, producer and sound engineer, Freiman is a serious academic of music, and his approach to the Beatles’ catalog is profoundly technical.

Freiman says he started listening to the Beatles when he was young. “I’ve always been fascinated by their music and always wanted to learn more about it,” he says. “When I became a full-time musician and producer, I got a new appreciation for what it was like to be the Beatles. And I thought it would be fun to share (what I knew) with some friends and that became sharing with audiences. Next thing I know, I’m going around the country giving lectures.”

The lectures are “designed for people who’ve never been into a studio and have no idea what it’s like to record music,” he says. Sure, we’ve blasted and sung along in our cars to “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” who knows how many times, but most of us haven’t thought too much (if at all) about how that music was made or recorded or edited.

“Even though everyone knows the songs,” says Freiman, he likes to point out all of the “different, interesting things about them.” And there’s plenty to be found if you know where to look. The presentation comprises unreleased songs, other versions of songs, isolated parts of various tracks and accompanying slides, videos and pictures.

The Beatles were innovators in their compositions, incorporating elements of early rock, jazz, Broadway, even classical music. Many of the chord changes the Beatles used were revolutionary. “They paved the way for everyone from (Pink) Floyd to (Led) Zeppelin,” Frieman says.

The Fab Four’s innovation was particularly impressive given the technology at the time. “I think part of what made them so great is that they were limited by technology and they had to find ways to exploit the technology they had,” Freiman says. “On Sgt. Pepper, they only had four tracks to work with,” meaning they were only able to record music in a maximum of four discrete parts. That means instruments and vocals would need to be grouped together when recording and later mixed to make one song. “Today, they’d have 200 tracks,” says Freiman, which allows for much finer tuning and tweaking of individual parts.

If you think Beatles Lectures sound more like a class than a fun night out, consider this: Freiman’s lectures have sold out all over the country. This upcoming Schenectady event centers on Sgt. Pepper, but the Beatles expert has also lectured on The White Album and Revolver. (He’s also actually teaching a class on the Beatles at Yale.)

“It takes me months to put the show together,” Freiman says. He’s gotten much of his rare material from “many, many tracks that have circulated with collectors at Beatles conventions. … Ninety-nine percent of the audience has never heard (these) before.”

The show is good for kids and grownups alike, and Freiman says he’s happy when young, new fans approach him and ask him questions. It’s just more proof that the Beatles are likely the most important band of the 20th century.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he says. “I love working with the music. I love technology. And I love to tell people about all the stuff and bring them into a world that most people don’t get to experience.”